Self-locking separable fastener



Nova 15, 1949 G. A. ROUNDS SELF-LOCKING SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Aug. 18, 1947 I INVENTOR GALE A. Rouuos d] 5:51 upa H15 AT T ORN EY Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE Gale A. RoundsfRap'id City, S. -Da'.k., assignor-of one-half to Ivan E. Lands'trom, Rapid City,

S. Dak.

u usms, 1947, Jseria1"No.i'z6a,2sa

GGla'ims. (cum-4,221

:My invention relates to claspsand .hasforan object to ,provide a clasp which .may .be quickly :and .positively assembled. V

.Another-objectof the invention resides in pro- .viding va clasp in which application of the [two parts of the clasp automatically .causes the vsame to be locked together.

(Another obj ectiof :the invention resides inproviding :a .clasp having a [rotatable locking mem- :ber {and a -spring operable .to rotate :said locking .-member into locking. position.

.A still further object =.of .the -invention resides in mroviding 1a acatch ffor holding the docking member in the disengaged position and in further providing :rel'easing means -.operable upon assembly 10f the parts .to zreleaserthe catch.

A feature of :the :invention :resides :in pro- .vi'ding zone of the '.parts aof ;the:.clasp witha hollow stud on which theme-king rmemhersis pivoted-and in idi-sposingzsaid spring withimsaidzstud.

.Another -:object of .the invention rresides :attaching "one end pf ;.said ;spring :to :said flocking imember rand in2forming 1m ithe :other end :of -.the spring irrto a rcatc'h 'for .engagement with :said locking :m'eniber.

Another object or the invention resides in forming a trigger (on :said spring :engageable 'by ithepther part .for:disengagingfisaidzcatch.

Other objects :of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and Lin the details uof construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

' In the drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a. plan view df aeclasp embodying m inven'tion, as employed=on=a wrist band.

Fig. 2 is a plan-view of the female part -of the clasp.

Fig. 3 is "a plan view of "the "male part =of the clasp.

Fig. '4 is a transverse vertical section "on the "1ine' 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is -'a*view"s"imilar toFigx4showingthe partsprior to'assembly.

*Since the -clasp of the :present "invention is of general utility, 1 han shown and will describe its embodiment in a "wrist band Fl used for wrist watches-by both menan'd women.

The "clasp "itself r'consists essentially "of three "cooperating "elementsa.male part fl I having an upstanding stud I2 Tig'id therewith, 'a locking tmember f3 gpivotally mounte'd on the end of "said stud, 'and afemale part I!" having "an opening "*I 5 therein. for the reception of the malepartfl.

"Theimale Jpart ll includes affba'se I6 which fhas'an eyelet 10 to which one end of ithe'wrist '2 band 17 is attached. One-end of the upstandingihollow'stud 'I 2 is rigidlyafiixed to the base 16. .A body 1post P8 of clover-leaf design is formed integrally with base I6 and is concentric with the stud i2. This posthas lobes 35 with spaces "35 therebetween. The locking member 13 is pivotally mounted 'onthe outer portion 'ofthe stud i2 and held in such pivotal'position-by means of :a nut I'9 which screws'on'the outer end of the-stud f2. 'The'locking member I3is'o'f'the'same'shape and design as .the post t8 andhas lobes 36 and spaces "3? therebetween adapted to register -with the lobes 34 and spaces 35 of post l8. A coil spring ii 'is disposed within the hollow stud 12. One end of this spring extends ioutwardly beyondsaid stud andis"ri gidly afiixedto'the outer face of the"lo'cking member, 'byimeans of :a projection .23 which enters .a hole '24 'in said locking member. "The other end of spring 21 extends voutwardlybeyond the other end of stud 1'2 and is disposed 'in agroove '2'1'form'ed'in'the'base 1.6 and post 18. This .end o'fithe spring has a catch 22 formed on the same which normally projects outwardly .beyond the outermost surface of the post I8. A button *3l "is rigidly afiixed 'to the locking member I3 and provides -convenient shoulder '28 adapted to be engaged by -*the catch 22. The 'coil spring is '-norma1ly*-tens'ioned so as to cause *rota'tionpf the-locking'member 4 3 =irito the locking position whereby the female part d 4 is'rigidly afiixedtothe male part -l 3as described in detail hereinbefore. "The catch 2-2-engages a shoulder 28 to restrain movement of 1 the docking "member -f3"sothat the-two partsmay be attached "or separated, as desired.

A motion limitin ."means iscbtained by means 'of a pin "32 rigidly attached to the body post I 8 engaging within a slot "33 in the locking member 13. "Thus, the .locking member '13 "can only be rotated from "a position where thie'flobes 136 and spacesB'I of locking member l"3-regis't,er with the lobesfl and spaces $5 dfthepost t-tto a=position locking member l3 on the male part I I until the clover-leaf design registers with the same design of the body post l8. Snap catch 22 will then ensa1d opening.

gage shoulder 28 and hold the two clover-leaf designed members, l3 and [8, in alignment. Then apply the opening l of female part It over the locking member l3 and the post l8. As the female part [4 engages trigger 29, the catch 22 is disengaged from shoulder 28 so that the locking member I3 is released. Locking member [3 then rotates by means of the resilient force of spring 2| to the position shown in Fig. l and locks the two parts in assembled relation. To separate the two parts, simply rotate the locking member l3 by means of button 3i to the trigger-engaged position wherein the clover-leaf design of the opening l5 of the female part I4 is aligned with both the post l8 and locking member l3. In this aligned position, the female part I4 is readily and easily separated from the male part II. Thus, with very little practice or explanation, anyone can readily engage or disengage m'y clasp.

The advantages of my invention are manifest. It provides a new and improved clasp that has a readily detachable connection between two separable bodies or parts. It provides a positive mechanical connection between such bodies that is not dependent upon spring pressure to hold the bodies in attached relation. It is readily operable, simple and rugged in construction, light in weight, and has visible means to indicate whether the device is engaged or disengaged. A spring maintains the engaged mechanical position and a clover-leaf designed member engages the parts at all four sides. My invention is particularly useful as a clasp for jewelry and for other purposes where a quick detachable device is required for use on two cooperating bodies or parts.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A clasp comprising a male part having a base and a post extending outwardly therefrom, a female part having an opening adapted to receive said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adapted to swing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member and the other end anchored relative-to said base, said spring urging said locking member toward its latter position, a catch for holding said locking member in its former position, and releasing means operable by said female part and releasing said locking member when the post is fully received within said opening.

2. A clasp comprising a male part having a base and a post extending outwardly therefrom,

4 a female part having an opening adapted to receive said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adapted to swing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a coil spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member and the other end anchored relative to said base, said spring urging said locking member toward its latter position, a catch for holding said locking member in its former position and releasing means operable by said female part and releasing said locking member when the post is fully received within 3. A clasp comprising a male part having a base and a post extending outwardly therefrom, a female part having an opening adapted to receive said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adapted to swing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member and the other end anchored relative to said base, said spring urging said locking member toward its latter position, a catch formed on the second named end of said spring and engaging said locking member, said catch being urged into engagement therewith through the resiliency of said spring, and releasing means operable by said female part and releasing said locking member when the post is fully received within said opening.

4. A clasp comprising a male part having a base and a post extending outwardly therefrom, a female part having an opening adapted to receive said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adapted to swing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member and the other end anchored relative to said base, said spring urging said looking member toward its latter position, a catch formed on the second named end of said spring and engaging said locking member, said catch being urged into engagement therewith through the resiliency of said spring, and a trigger formed on the same end of said spring and engageable by said female part upon insertion of said post into said opening to disengage said catch and to release said locking member.

5. A clasp comprising a male part having a base and a post extending outwardly therefrom, a female part having an opening adapted to receive 7 said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adaptedtoswing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a'spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member, a groove formed in said base, the other end of said spring being received in said groove and being anchored thereby, a catch formed on the second named end of said spring and engaging said locking membensaid catch being urged into engagement therewith through the resiliency of said spring, and releasing means operable by said female part and releasing said locking memloer when the post is fully received within said male part having an opening adapted to receive said post, a hollow stud extending outwardly beyond said base, a locking member pivoted on said stud and adapted to swing from a position clearing said female part to a position overlying said female part, a spring disposed within said hollow stud and having one end engaging said locking member, a groove formed in said base, the other end of said spring being received in said groove and being anchored thereby, a bight formed on said second end of said spring and extending outwardly beyond said locking member to form a trigger, a catch formed on the outermost portion of said end of the spring and engaging said locking member, said catch being urged into engage- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,012,803 Brough Dec. 26, 1911 1,819,824 McAllister Aug. 18, 1931 

